Welcome to the next installment of the players you need to know at every club in the USL Championship as we continue the countdown to the start of the 2025 season on Saturday, March 8.

Today it’s the turn of the midfielders, which feature some high-level talent that made its presence known in the past campaign, others who made intriguing offseason moves, and some notable veterans who are still delivering at a high level for their respective clubs.

Our picks for the Eastern Conference are below, for our picks in the Western Conference, click here.

Birmingham Legion FC – Kobe Hernandez-Foster

If there was a bright spot in the first season in Birmingham Legion FC history in which the side didn’t reach the postseason, the emergence of Kobe Hernandez-Foster as a young central midfield distributor was one of them. The 22-year-old returned to the United States after two seasons in Norway and contributed three goals and six assists across all competitions while ranking seventh in the Championship’s regular season with 1,594 completed passes at an 86.8 percent accuracy rate.

As a creative centerpiece, those are strong numbers, especially when you add in a long-ball accuracy rate of 62.1 percent on 167 completed passes. With the speed of Ronaldo Damus arriving in Birmingham this season, the ability to drop balls in over opposing back lines or thread the needle with incisive passes is a strength Hernandez-Foster can build on this year.

Where he needs to improve, however, is on the other side of the ball. As a holding midfielder, the LA Galaxy Academy product posted just a 47.5 percent duel success rate and recorded only 20 interceptions and 21 tackles in almost 3,000 minutes of action. If he can improve that side of his game, Hernandez-Foster should take a big step forward, and have a chance to carry Legion along with him.

Charleston Battery – Houssou Landry

There was little question to the value Houssou Landry brought to New Mexico United during the 2024 season. The Cote d’Ivoire native led the side in interceptions (47), tackles won (42) and duels won (146) across the regular season and playoffs and was sure on the ball as well, ranking second on the team in passes completed (1,242) after his offseason arrival from Loudoun United FC.

Those sort of numbers – plus his physicality and range at 6-foot-4 – make him one of the most intriguing defensive midfielders in the league. It also requires the question as to what the Charleston Battery – which already counts arguably the greatest exponent of the art in Aaron Molloy, as well as strong secondary options like Chris Allan in its squad – would want with the 24-year-old as he arrives this offseason.

Landry’s position as an outright No. 6, however, might offer some intriguing possibilities for Head Coach Ben Pirmann. What if Molloy – who recorded 49 interceptions and 199 recoveries himself in 2024 – had more freedom to roam and pull the strings with Landry maintaining the side’s shape at the base of the midfield, and how much more dangerous could that make the Battery overall? We’re definitely curious to find out how this could fit together.

Detroit City FC – Abdoulaye Diop

The progression of Abdoulaye Diop in Detroit City’s midfield during the club’s three seasons in the USL Championship has been enjoyable to watch. The energy the 25-year-old plays with fits the club perfectly, and while he held the league-lead with 74 fouls committed during the 2024 season, DCFC’s numbers offensively and defensively were better when he was on the field.

But this is on the face of it a big year for Diop. After setting a career-high with 2,460 minutes of action while notching two goals, two assists and 19 chances created, Le Rouge are likely going to need more production from him as it looks to boost an attack which saw two players account for more than 40 percent of its goals a season ago.

With one of those – Maxi Rodriguez – moving on to new pastures, Diop could be needed to step up and provide more attacking punch in his game. While he’s never shown reticence to fire away – taking 38 shots a season ago, Diop’s ability to join the attack and support forwards Darren Smith and Ben Morris could come into a sharper focus this year.

Hartford Athletic – Samuel Careaga

In his first stint on loan with Memphis 901 FC in 2023, young Argentine Samuel Careaga gave us a taste of what he could do. Last year, once again on loan from Lanus, the 22-year-old took a major step forward with eight goals and two assists in a little over 1,705 minutes that helped carry Memphis to a top-three finish in the West.

That’s the sort of impact Hartford Athletic is hoping Careaga can deliver this year as he returns to the league as one of the key additions to Head Coach Brendan Burke’s squad. The on-off numbers for Careaga a season ago tell a positive story – Memphis averaged 1.8 goals/90 minutes when he was on the field compared to 0.9 goals/90 when he wasn’t – and with the side in need of a No. 10 to play behind Mamadou Dieng and alongside winger Michee Ngalina, Careaga could be a great fit.

If Careaga’s minutes make another rise, his productivity could be the missing piece in a Hartford attack that is aiming to be prolific this year. 

Indy Eleven – Jack Blake

There’s no real way to sugarcoat this – when Jack Blake wasn’t available for Indy Eleven last season, the team wasn’t quite the same. Part of that was due to Blake’s scoring – his 10 goals were the most in a regular season in his career, albeit with six of them coming from the penalty spot – but as important was the energy he provided in the midfield and attacking third that caused good things to flow for the Boys in Blue.

When Blake was absent, the side went winless (0-3-4) and saw its goals/90-minute rate drop by a full goal from 1.7 per 90 to 0.7 per 90. The value the 30-year-old delivered saw Indy sign Blake to a new contract this offseason with the hope the English veteran can deliver more of the same in his third campaign with the club.

Blake should benefit from the teammates he has around him. With fellow veterans Aodhan Quinn – who also shone after coming back to full fitness later in the season – and Cam Lindley still on board, there’s a freedom for Blake to tap into his attacking instincts. Creating chemistry with the club’s new forward line will be needed, but Blake figures to be key if Indy’s going to challenge for top spot in the East.

Loudoun United FC – Tommy McCabe

After an unsettled 2023 season that saw him split time between FC Tulsa and Detroit City FC, Tommy McCabe became an established piece for Loudoun United FC last season. The 25-year-old appeared in every game of the regular season – missing only 29 minutes of action overall – as his ability on the ball helped set the tempo for a United side that ranked in the top five in average possession and passes completed in the regular season.

McCabe’s marks of 1,867 completed passes at an 88.1 percent accuracy rate put him near the top of the league’s individual list, and he could have been considered unlucky to not register more assists after bagging only one on a career-best 2.92 Expected Assists mark.

The problem, however, was McCabe’s numbers on the other side of the ball. He won only 72 duels at a 46.5 percent success rate and notched only 14 interceptions. Adding that element to his game is going to be key this season as United tries to push forward and into the postseason for the first time.

Louisville City FC – Taylor Davila

Two years ago, the people who vote on these things saw Taylor Davila for what he was at Rio Grande Valley FC – a player with star potential ready for his breakout moment. His selection to the 2023 Championship All-League First Team for a Toros side that missed the postseason was testament to the quality Davila brought game-in and game-out.

At Louisville City this past campaign, everyone got to see what the fuss was about. In tandem with Championship Young Player of the Year Elijah Wynder, Davila stepped his numbers up further, ending the season with a career-high eight goals and seven assists across the regular season and playoffs to earn nomination for Player of the Year honors.

After signing a new multi-year contract, the former LA Galaxy Academy product is set to be a centerpiece for LouCity once again this season. While Wynder has headed to California for a Championship-record domestic transfer fee, the arrival of Kevon Lambert and Zach Duncan will provide top-level support for Davila to make marauding runs forward in support of the attack as LouCity pursues more silverware.

Miami FC – Bolu Akinyode

On one hand, Bolu Akinyode’s return to Miami FC has the hope of a return to the more positive recent seasons in the club’s history when it reached the postseason with Akinyode a key piece at the center of its midfield.

On the other, it might prove a roll of the dice on a player whose performance – and minutes – have gradually diminished over the past four seasons as he enters his 11th campaign in the professional ranks.

At least in one regard, Akinyode’s return to Miami should see a return to his more natural defensive midfield position. In El Paso a season ago he seemed miscast as a center back, and it showed in a dramatic drop in duels won, aerial duels won, interceptions and recoveries. At the same time, as Akinyode approaches his 300th professional appearance this season, the question might be whether he can keep up with the game, and what that might say about Miami’s chances for a rebound campaign.

North Carolina FC – Mikey Maldonado

As you might expect, there was a little bit of a learning curve for Mikey Maldonado as he stepped into the USL Championship for the first time as one of the stars of North Carolina’s League One title-winning side in 2023. Over the second half of the season, however, a lot seemed to slot into place for the 26-year-old central midfielder.

After finding the net for the third time in the campaign against Rhode Island FC on July 27, Maldonado’s numbers rose across the board, including bagging seven assists in the final 15 games of the season. That surge was accompanied by positive gains in successful pass/90 minutes and accuracy rate as well as more recoveries and tackles won.

There’s going to be competition for minutes in NCFC’s midfield this season with the return of veteran Collin Martin and arrival of Pedro Dolabella from Union Omaha. Maldonado’s upward trend over the course of the past campaign could see him record more crucial minutes and contributions this year.

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC – Danny Griffin

Aside from his brief stint at Huntsville City FC early in 2023, there’s been no-one more present for Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC over the past four seasons than Danny Griffin. That’s reflected in his numbers, where he’s logged more than 2,000 more minutes than Kenardo Forbes across the regular season and playoffs for the Hounds while racking up 128 appearances for the club in league play.

Where the 26-year-old’s biggest value lies is his versatility. He’s not necessarily going to score a lot of goals – the four he bagged last season doubled his career league total for the Hounds – but he’s going to make impact plays that help the Hounds create chances, whether that’s in winning possession or distributing to set up attacking opportunities.

As the Hounds retained a solid contingent of players for a second consecutive offseason, Griffin is going to remain at the center of their midfield plan with the potential to push the side back into top-four contention after its late surge into the playoffs a year ago.

Rhode Island FC – Maxi Rodriguez

Over the past three seasons, no-one had made more appearances, or scored more goals, for Detroit City FC than Maxi Rodriguez. This past campaign, his influence for Le Rouge was recognized with a first Championship All-League First Team selection as he helped lead the club to a top-three finish in the Eastern Conference, as well as a notable upset of defending title-holders Houston Dynamo FC in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

Now, in one of the biggest free agent moves of the offseason, the veteran midfielder is headed to the defending Eastern Conference title holder, and could end up as one of the star attractions as Rhode Island FC opens its new venue at Tidewater Landing this spring. It’s going to be fascinating to see how Rodriguez’s game meshes with the likes of JJ Williams and Noah Fuson, and how Khano Smith makes the most of his new playmaker in the three-man central midfield the side generally favored in 2024.

After the club’s strong second half and postseason run, Rhode Island figures to be in contention at the top of the East this regular season. Rodriguez’s performance could be a key factor in how high they can fly.

Tampa Bay Rowdies – Lewis Hilton

When the report came out this preseason that Lewis Hilton – who will enter his 10th season in the USL Championship this year – had been the last player standing in the club’s preseason “beep test”, there probably wasn’t very much surprise. After all, one of the keys to the 31-year-old’s longevity and success has been his work-rate in the center of midfield, something that’s been vital for the Rowdies since his arrival in 2020.

But there’s still a high level of quality on the ball as well as work ethic that makes Hilton an essential part of the team. According to American Soccer Analysis’ Goals Added metric, Hilton had his best season in Rowdies colors in 2024 with a +5.70 rating, and with a career-best Expected Assists mark of 7.06xA it’s hard to argue the influence the Englishman still wields from open play and set pieces.

Hilton was one of the more unfortunate creators in the Championship last season – that Expected Assists mark somehow resulted in only two actual assists for his ledger – but you’d hope that would change this campaign. With everything else Hilton brings to the field it’s hard to see him slowing down.